Rivet setting machine



Feb. 22, 1966 R. STEIN RIVET SETTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April ll, 1963 INVENTOR. RAPHAEL .STE/IV InIl 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1l, 1963 INVENTOR.

RA Wi/1FL 5 7' //V ma /S/ LM ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1966 R. STEIN 3,236,432

RIVET SETTING MACHINE Filed April ll, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 /06 r-/I INVENTOR. ,08 RAM/Aa .srE//v ATTO/PNE? Feb. 22, 1966 R. STEIN 3,236,432

RIVET SETTING MACHINE Filed April ll, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. RAPHAEL .ST5/IV ATTRNE'V United States Patent O 3,236,432 RIVET SETTING MACHINE Raphael Stein, 1000 Borbeck Ave., Philadelphia 11, Pa. Filed Apr. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 272,464 8 Claims. (Cl. 227-61) This invention relates to a rivet setting machine.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 141,398, filed on September 28, 1961, issued as Patent No. 3,125,905, dated March 24, 1964, and entitled Rivet Setting Machine.

The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of the prior art as set forth in greater detail in my above-mentioned tro-pending application, and facilitates the accomplishment of the same in a manner whereby rivets may be set in a rapid, automatic, repetitive manner. If the apparatus should become jammed or for some reason malfunction, a means is provided to immediately stop the apparatus.

Under certain conditions, it is desirable to group two or more rivet setting machines for production line purposes. Accordingly, the front head of the apparatus is appropriately tapered for such purpose so that a plurality of rivets may be set at the same time in a straight line or a staggered pattern or other configuration.

The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to receive a variety of separately removable heads. This facilitates the provision of a more versatile rivet setting machine. In accordance with the present invention, a head may be provided for the machine and two such machines positioned head-tohead so that a pair of rivets may be set at the same time and only /16 inch apart.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel rivet setting machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rivet setting machine having readily removable heads to facilitate conversion from one type of head to another whereby the spacing between two adjacent rivets being simultaneously set is selectively obtainable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rivet setting machine which can be manual or automatic.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a rivet setting machine capable of automatic operation and capable of ceasing all operations when a jam-up occurs.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide a rivet setting machine which can be used in conjunction with another such machine to simultaneously set rivets ths of an inch apart.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the rivet setting apparatus of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial front elevation view taken along the lines 2-2 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 schematically illustrate the manner in which three separate rivet setting machines may be utilized in conjunction with each other for a simultaneous operation.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE '7 is a bottom plan view of the rivet transfer means.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8 8 in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a schematic wiring diagram.

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation view, partly in section,

3,236,432 Patented Feb. 22, 1966 ICC of two rivet setting machines adapted to be utilized simultaneously.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines 11-11 in FIGURE 10.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGURE l a rivet setting machine designated generally as 10.

The rivet setting machine 10 includes Ia frame 12 cast or otherwise formed from metal. The frame 12 may be mounted on a table, or as illustrated, on a pedal support 14. An anvil arm 16 having an anvil 18 extends from the pedal support 14 in the same direction and below the horizontally extending arm of the frame 12.

A head 20 is removably secured to the front end of the frame 12 by means of a plurality of bolts 22. The head 20 reciprocally supports a driver mechanism 24. Driver mechanism 24 is coupled to the upper end of a reciprocally disposed driver 26 which is also reciprocally supported by the head 20. The lowermost end of the driver 26 extends between spaced jaws 28 and 30. Each of the jaws 28 and 30 are mating halves of a rivet coniining means. I aw 2S is supported by a at leaf spring 32 and jaw 30 is supported by a at leaf spring 34.

The upper ends of springs 32 and 34 are secured to a jaw housing 36 which surrounds a lower portion of the driver mechanism 24 and is reciprocally supported by the head 20. The jaw housing 36 is spring-biased upwardly in FIGURES 1 and 2 by the spring 38 which extends from a xed pin 40 on the head 20 to a pin 42 which extends through a guide slot 44 on the housing 20. The driver mechanism 24 is provided with a slot 46 through which a second pin on the jaw housing 36 extends so that the jaw housing 36 reciprocates downwardly after a predetermined amount of travel of the driver mechanism 24, and may be referred to hereinafter as a lost motion connection. I aw housing 36 is provided with a down limit stop 7 supported by head 20 and adjustable by setscrew 5. Housing 36 carries an adjustable up limit stop 37 which contacts head 20.

The upper end of the driver mechanism 24 terminates in a pair of ears pivotably coupled to one end of a link 48. The other end of the link 48 is pivotably coupled to one end of a bell crank 50. An intermediate portion of the bell crank 50 is pivotably coupled to the frame 12 by means of pin 52, The other end of the bell crank 50 is pivotably coupled to one end of a piston rod 54. The other end of piston rod 54 extends into and is coupled to a piston disposed within cylinder 56.

Cylinder 56 is pivotably supported by the frame 12 at pivot pin 58. Motive uid is supplied to opposite ends of the cylinder 56 by means of conduits 60 and 62.

The conduits 60 and 62 communicate with the outlet ports of a selectively operable valve 64 having up and down solenoids. A hydraulic oil will be pumped from the reservoir 68 through the valve 64 and the conduits 60 and 62 by means of a pump extending into the reservoir 68 and operative by motor 66.

Operation of the machine 10 may be semi-automatic in response to a conventional foot pedal switch 70 or may be automatic as will be made clear hereinafter. Each time the foot pedal 70 is depressed by the operator, the piston rod 54 will be caused to reciprocate generally to the left in FIGURE 1 to cause the driver mechanism 24 and driver 26 to reciprocate toward the anvil 18. At the same time, such movement of the piston rod 54 will result in transfer of a rivet to a throat plate from which it will be delivered to a position between the jaws 28 and 30 as will be made clear hereinafter.

When the driver 26 has reached the extent of its downward stroke, it will then reciprocate upwardly with the piston rod 54 reciprocating to the right in FIGURE 1. When these elements reach the end of their stroke, all

' 3 operation will cease. Reversal of the direction of movement of the driver 26 is effected when the lefthand end of the adjusable member 76 carried by the piston rod 56 (contacts the limit switch actuator 78. The position and setting of member 76 may be gaged by scale 77. Cessation of operation is effected when the surface 80 of piston rod 54 contacts the limit switch actuator 78.

As shown more clearly in FIGURE 9, there is illustrated a schematic wiring diagram to effect the aboveidentified operations. Connected in parallel with the motor 66 across the power lines 82 and 84, there is provided a switching circuit 86. Circuit 86 includes three lines in parallel. In the rst line, there is provided contact members 88 of the limit switch actuator 78 in series with a relay 90 and normally closed contact member 92 of the foot pedal switch 70. A switch 94 for automatic operation is in parallel with contact member 92. One contact member 96 of the relay 90 is in parallel with the switch 94. Contact member 96 is normally open.

In the second line of the circuit 86, there is provided a down solenoid 98 for the valve 64 in series with the other contact member 100 of the foot pedal switch 70 and a second contact member 102 of the relay 90. The latter two contact members are normally open. of the circuit 86 includes an up solenoid 106 in series with the contact member 108 of the limit switch actuator 78.

As the piston rod 54 reciprocates to the left in FIG- URES l and 6, the stud 110 integral with the piston rod 54 and the member 113 rotatably supported thereby move therewith. This action removes the obstruction so that plate 118 can rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 6 under the effect of spring 122 and cause rod 114 and member 112 to reciproctae to the left in FIG- URE 6 as facilitated by universal connection 116. When member 113 returns to the right in FIGURE 6, it abuts the stop nut 115 on member 112 and then pushes rod 114 to the right which in turn rotates plate 118 in a clockwise direction.

When the piston rod 54 reciprocates to the right in FIGURE 6, the pawl 120, rotatably supported by the plate 118, cooperates to rotate the ratchet 124. The ratchet 124 is coupled to the shaft 126 which extends through the bottom plate 128 of the hopper 74. It will be noted that the rotor 72 is coupled to the shaft 126. Rotor 72 is provided with a wing 130 to facilitate shuiiiing rivets. As explained more fully in my above-mentioned copending application, the rotor 72 is provided with a pluraltiy of peripherally disposed recesses 132 through which rivets will fall and move due to gravity down the raceway 134.

The raceway 134 comprises top and bottom plates 136 and 138. The bottom plate 138 is provided with a longitudinally extending passageway 140 through which the shank of a rivet may extend. The raceway 134 extends through an aperture in the piston rod 54 and terminates at its lower end in a throat plate 142 adjacent the jaws 28 and 30. The throat plate 142 is provided with a passageway 144 which is offset with respect to the passageway 140. The uppermost end of passageway 144 is connected to the lowermost end of passageway 140 by an arcuate slot 148 through which a curved finger 150 is re-ciprocally disposed. The finger 150 rollingly engages the lowermost rivet in passageway 140 and, when actuated, Will physically push the rivet from passageway 140 over to passageway 144.

Finger 150 is pivotably supported by the raceway 134 for rotation about pin 152. The extent of rotation of nger 150 in a clockwise direction in FIGURE 7 is limited by the adjustable limit stop 154. Rotation of finger 150 is effected by means of rod 156. Rod 156 extends through a hole in boss 151 on finger 150. The hole has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of rod 156. Spring 153 biases washer 155 against boss 151. Rod 156 can over travel boss 151 and terminates in a The third line threaded portion receiving a nut 157 for positively rotating finger on the return stroke.

The rod 156 is guided for reciprocation by the frame 12 and terminates in its upper end in a roller 158 in contact with the cam surface on a pivotably mounted arm 160. Arm 160 terminates at one end in a roller 162 which follows the cam surface 164 on the piston rod 54. Hence, as the piston rod 54 reciprocates to the left in FIGURE 1, arm 160 pivots in a counterclockwise direction thereby reciprocating the rod 156 downwardly in FIGURE 1 and to the left in FIGURE 7 thereby transferring a rivet from the passageway 140 to the passageway 144.

The head 20 is provided with a narrow front face 166 and outwardly diverging sides 168 and 170. Hence, a plurality of head may be arranged with respect to each other as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. As a result of the arrangement in FIGURE 3, rivets may be set simultaneously throughout an arc of a circle. As a result of the arrangement in FIGURE 4, a plurality of machines may be utilized to simultaneously set a plurality of rivets in a straight line. As a result of the arrangement in FIGURE 5, a plurality of machines may be arranged so as to simultaneously set rivets in a staggered pattern.

Occasionally, it is desirable to simultaneously set rivets in rows of twos. In order to accomplish such gang rivet setting, two or more machines will be disposed opposite one another. For example, two identical machines such as those desiganted generally as 10 and 10" in FIGURE 10 may be arranged so that panels will be joined with rivets on opposite sides of the juxtaposed end faces of the panels. In FIGURE l0, the drivers are in their up positions and a rivet is disposed between the jaws of machine 10. The present invention facilitates the application of rivets on opposite sides of the juxtaposed end faces of the panels, with the rivets being a minimum of ylgths of an inch on center.

In order to accomplish the desirable gang-setting of rivets, the head 20 on the apparatus 10 may be removed and head 172 substituted therefor. The head 172 includes a driver mechanism 174 which will be pivotably connected to the free end of link 48 in the same manner as the driver mechanism 24 was coupled to the link 48.

The driver mechanism 174 is reciprocally supported by the head 172 and connected at its lower end to an adaptor 176. The adaptor 176 is provided with a bore offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the driver mechanism 174. The bore in the adaptor 176 is adjacent the flat front face 180 thereof and adjustably receives a driver 178. The driver 178 corresponds to the driver 26 described above and cooperates with jaws in the same manner as described above. For clarity of illustration, the jaws and spring supports which cooperate with the driver 178 are provided with the corresponding numerals which have been primed.

The jaw housing 36 is provided with an adjustable up limit stop and an adjustable down limit stop 182 in the same manner as jaw housing 36. Jaw housing 36 is provided with an upstanding pin 184 which is reciprocally supported in a bore of the head 172 and spring biased to an upper position by means of spring 186 as illustrated. When the driver mechanism 174 and driver 178 move downwardly, the jaws move downwardly therewith until the housing 36 contacts its limit stop 182. Thereafter, the jaws move outwardly away from each other so that the rivet being set may pass between the jaws and into aligned holes in the panels. As a result of the at front face 180 on the adaptor 176, the plane of this face is the separating line between the twol machines 10 and 10". Hence, rivets may be set in aligned holes in the panels at a location which is closer to the juxtaposed edges of the panels than could be accomplished heretofore.

The operation of a single machine of the present invention is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the hopper 74 is full of rivets,

the raceway 134 is full of rivets, and the start switch 188 is closed. The light 190 will be lit indicating that switch 188 is closed. Two or more panels or the like having aligned holes will be positioned over the anvil 18. As soon as the operator closes start switch 188, contact members 96 and 102 of relay 90 also close. Thus, when the operator places his foot on the foot pedal switch 70, the contact member 100 will be closed, the down solenoid 98 will be activated and hydraulic oil will be pumped under pressure through conduit 62 to move the piston rod 54 to the left. Operation of the foot pedal switch 70 will also open the normally closed contact member 92. As the piston rod 54 moves to the left, the plate 118 will be rotated a predetermined amount until it abuts a limit stop 123, the rod 156 will be reciprocated downwardly to transfer a rivet to the throat block passageway 144, and the driver mechanism 24 will be reciprocated downwardly in FIGURE 1. If the operator takes his foot olf the switch 70, contact member 100 will open, and the elements will stop in that intermediate position so long as the down stroke of the mechanism 24 has not been completed.

As soon as the down stroke of mechanism 24 is completed, the lefthand end of member 76 contacts the limit switch actuator 78, contact member 108 will close and contact member 88 will open. As a result thereof, the contact members 96 and 102 of relay 90 will be opened and up solenoid 106 will be activated to enable the hydraulic oil to be pumped through conduit 60 to reciprocate the piston rod 54 to the right in FIGURE l until the surface 80 contacts the limit switch actuator 78 thereby moving the contact member 108 to its open disposition. At the end of the return stroke, the machine will stop. All of the above operation will take place in a very short time, such as one second. In order to repeat the cycle, the operator must step on switch 70 again. If the operator did not take his foot olf switch 70, he must do so, allowing the foot pedal switch 70 to return to the position shown, closing contact 92, in order to energize relay 90 to close contacts 96, 102, and then press down again in order to commence the next cycle.

Since the piston rod 54 must move through a predetermined length of travel in two opposite directions before a new cycle may be commenced, such a new cycle cannot be commenced if a rivet is jammed between the jaws or is not properly aligned with the driver 26. As soon as it is detected that the machine has stopped and the driver 26 is not in its uppermost position, an operator may then immediately open switch 188. If it is desired to have automatic operation, the switch 94 must be closed and the operator must keep his foot on switch 70. A new cycle will automatically commence as soon as surface 80 abuts the limit switch actuator 78 to close the contact member 88. In order to stop automatic operation, the operator need only take his foot off switch 70.

When it is desired to convert from single operation to gang rivet setting, two or more machines may be juxtaposed to one another as illustrated in FIGURES 3-5. Alternatively, two machines may be disposed head-tohead as illustrated in FIGURES l0 and ll for gang rivet setting. The machine may be rapidly converted to the machine 10 by simply loosening the bolts Z2, loosening the connection between link 48 and the driver mechanism 24, and then substituting the head 172 for the head 20.

When using two or more machines for gang operation, each machine may have its own hydraulic operator or may be operated as schematically illustrated in FIGURE 4 wherein the hydraulic cylinders for each machine are coupled to a single source 167 of hydraulic liquid.

The operation may be converted from one size rivet to another by merely changing the rotor 72 and raceway 134. Raceway 134 stays full at all times. The pressure of the drivers 26 and 178 can be varied from 5 to 10,000 or more p.s.i. by a simple adjustment of the pump and its relief valve.

The present invention may be embodied in otherspecie forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rivet setting machine comprising a frame having a head, an anvil, a driver mechanism reciprocally supported by the head, a driver coupled to said driver mechanism and adapted to move toward and away from said anvil, the longitudinal axis of said driver being offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said driver mechanism and disposed adjacent a front at face of its support, whereby two machines may be juxtaposed in head-to-head relationship for gang operation.

2. A machine in accordance with claim 1 including bolts removably securing said head to said frame so that said head is readily removable whereby a different head may be substituted therefor to facilitate conversion from one type of operation to another.

3. A rivet setting machine comprising a frame having a head, an anvil, a driver reciprocally supported by said head for movement toward and away from said anvil, and means coupled to said driver for automatically and repetitively reciprocating said driver so long as said driver travels through a stroke of a predetermined length, the longitudinal axis of said driver being olfset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said means coupled to said driver, said driver being disposed adjacent a front flat face of the head, said face having a reduced cross-sectional area, said head being provided with converging sides toward said front face of reduced cross sectional area, whereby two or more heads may be juxtaposed to one another to facilitate gang operation.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said heads are juxtaposed in gang operation to provide a straight line of closely spaced rivets.

5. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said heads are juxtaposed in gang operation to provide closely spaced rivets in staggered relationship.

6. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said heads are juxtaposed in gang operation to provide closely spaced rivets in a circular relationship.

7. A rivet setting machine comprising a frame carrying an anvil, said frame including a flat vertical support face over said anvil, a head having a matching surface bolted on said support surface, said head readily removable for conversion from one type of operation to another by substitution of a new head therefor, a driver reciprocally supported by said head for movement toward and away from said anvil, and means coupled to said driver for automatically and repetitively reciprocating said driver so long as said driver travels through a stroke of a predetermined length.

8. A rivet setting machine comprising a frame having a head and an anvil thereon, a driver reciprocally supported by said head for movement toward and away from said anvil, a piston with an associated cylinder, said piston coupled to said driver to actuate said movement thereof by a reciprocal stroke of said piston, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve having alternate positions for selectively admitting said fluid into said cylinder at either side, alternately, of said piston actuating said stroke, a pair of solenoids controlling said valve by each, respectively, urging said valve to one of said positions, a switching circuit energizing said solenoids for automatic and manual operation of said machine, said circuit including a relay having dual circuit breaking contacts, said solenoids and relay each connected in a separate parallel branch defining said circuit, a limit switch having a pair of contacts, one in said relay branch and another in one of said solenoid branches, said limit switch, alternately, making one while breaking another of said pair of contacts, said limit switch positioned on said machine to be tripped at each end of said stroke, a foot pedal switch having first and second contacts, respectively, in said relay branch and in remaining of said solenoid branches, said foot switch alternately making one while breaking another of said first and second contacts, said foot switch being biased to make said rst contact in said relay branch, one of said dual contacts of said relay being in said remaining solenoid branch in series with said second contact of said foot pedal, and other of said dual contacts being at a self-energizing parallel short circuit across said first Contact of said foot pedal, said relay operating to make and break said dual contacts simultaneously, and a control switch for automatic operation having a contact in a parallel circuit across said irst contact of said foot pedal, said control said foot pedal for automatic operation of said machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1875 Allen 78-48 3/1945 Rechton 78-52.1 12/ 1948 Johndrew 78-48 1 1/ 1951 Fischer 7 8-48 11/1956 Jones 91-275 7/ 1958 Schafer 29-38 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/ 1957 France.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

switch making contact to short circuit said first contact of 15 WILLIAM J- STEPHENSON Examiner- G. P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RIVET SETTING MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAME HAVING A HEAD, AN ANVIL, A DRIVER MECHANISM RECIPROCALLY SUPPORTED BY THE HEAD, A DRIVER COUPLED TO SAID DRIVER MECHANISM AND ADAPTED TO MOVE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ANVIL, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID DRIVER BEING OFFSET WITH RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID DRIVER MECHANISM 